I have never had chipmunks damage my feeders but squirrels chewed an aluminum baffle( the baffle is the can-like tube below the feeder that keeps them from reaching the feeder). Be happy you don't have bears. They twist and break the poles like they are toothpicks. They smash the feeders to smithereens or take them into the woods, hummingbird feeders too. I have a feeder hanging high above the ground with a pulley to fill it. I have to wrap the pulley rope around the tree or they will pull on it. The don't seem to be able to climb that tree though they try. They say birdseed is like candy to a bear. I'm glad you can repair you feeder and get back in business, it gets really expensive to replace everything.